Valve actuating assembly for aerosol containers



April 1961 A. L. EDELSTEIN EI'AL 2,980,296

VALVE ACTUATING ASSEMBLY FOR AEROSOL CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 22, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

INVENTORS ALBERT z. EDEZSTE/l/ BY JOSEPH sac/ 5 rev/v April 1961 A. L. EDELSTEIN ETAL 2,980,296

VALVE ACTUATING ASSEMBLY FOR AEROSOL CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 22, 1958 FIGS.

2 Sheets-Shet 2 /4/ INVENTORS ALBERT L. [DELSTE/Al JOSEPH 6L K165 7E/A/ Y ATTOENGYS United States Patent F VALVE 'ACTUATING ASSEMBLY FOR AEROSOL CONTAINERS Albert L. Edelstein and Joseph Glickstein, New York, N.Y., assignors to Syncro-Mist Controls, Inc., New York, N .Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 22, 1958, Ser. No. 756,608

8 Claims. (Cl. 222-70) The present invention relates generally to improvements in spray dispensing device or apparatus and it relates more particularly to an improved device for automatically periodically actuating the normally closed valve of a pressurized dispensing container.

In recent years it has become a common practice to dispense materials in the form of an aerosol from valved pressurized containers. The active material is admitted with a carrier usually in the form of a fluidized gas such as trichloromonofluoromethane, dichlorodifluoromethane or other suitable normally gaseous innocuous material having a desirable high vapor pressure at room temperature. The valve is normally spring closed and is provided with a finger piece or button, the depression of which opens the valve to effect the dispensing of the active material and carrier in the form of a fine spray or aerosol. The valve mechanism may be of the metering type which discharges a single burst of spray upon depression of the finger piece, or of the type in which a spray is continuously dispensed as long as the finger piece is depressed.

Although the valve finger piece of the pressurized container is usually manually depressed when it is desired to dispense the container contents, it is very often highly advantageous to automatically periodically actuate the container valve to dispense a predetermined quantity of spray at regularly spaced intervals. Such occasions frequently arise in the spray dispensing of deodorants, air fresheners, germicides, insecticides and like agents in homes, in the theaters, hospitals and other enclosed public places. It is desirable, in these cases, to continually periodically dispense the active agent, .in the form of small measured quantities of aerosol, throughout the day or any part of the day.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for automatically periodically actuating the valve of a spray dispensing pressurized container, characterized by a minimum of moving parts, in which a single timing and loading motor periodically slowly raises the center of gravity of an energy-storing weighted member which is then released and the center of gravity permitted to rapidly fall free of the motor drive. During its fall, the weighted member actuates the container valve by way of a rockable lever to open the valve for a relatively short period and dispense a predetermined quantity of spray.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a valve actuating device of the character described in which the rockable lever engages the container valve by way of an adjustable screw which permits varying the period of actuation of the valve and in which the valve actuating period may be also varied by means of the coupling mechanism between the weighted member and the lever.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a valve actuating device .of the character described which may be employed with containers having metered and unmetered valves and of various sizes.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a valve actuating device of the character described in which the interval between valve actuating cycles is relatively long compared to period of the valve actuation and both are independent of each other, with the result that a relatively weak motor can be employed to load the valve actuating device and is uncoupled from the device during the period of valve actuation.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an automatic valve actuator device made in accordance with the present invention, with a spray dispensing pressurized container shown mounted therein, the weighted member being in its lower unloaded position;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view thereof of a side opposite to that of Fig. l, illustrated partially broken away, and with the weighted member shown in descending position and the valve actuating mechanism being motivated to open the valve;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view thereof, the weighted member being illustrated by broken line in partially raised position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the drive portion of the device; 1

Fig. 5 is a front fragmentary-elevational view illustrating the weighted member at its loaded upper portion; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, the weighted member being illustrated in its descending valve-motivating stroke.

Referring now to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral 10 generally designates a support structure or body frame which includes a base 12 and an upstanding rear wall 14. Projecting forwardly from the rear wall 14 at a point adjacent to the top thereof is an arm 16 having a forwardly directed arcuate recess (not shown) formed in its leading end. A removable and replaceable or adjustable platform 18' is located on the base 12 and supports a spray dispensing pressurized container 20, which includes a domed crowned portion 22 engaging the edges of the recess in the arm 16. In order to releasably maintain the container 20 in mounted position on the body frame 10, there is provided a pair of laterally spaced curved resilient arms 24 having concave confronting faces which embrace the body of the container 20 and are supported by the upright wall 14.

The container 20 may be of any of the conventional aerosol-dispensing types containing a fluidized gas in which is dissolved or admixed an active agent or ingredient. As is customary, the container 20 is hermetically sealed and is provided at its top end with a valve, which upon actuation releases a fine spray carrying the active agents through a forwardly-directed discharge opening. This valve (not shown) is normally spring biased to a closed position and is associated with a finger piece or button 26, the depression of which effects the opening of the valve and the release of a spray. Upon release of the button 26, the valve is spring-biased to its closed position and the button 26 to its raised position. The container 20 may be of the metered type in which a measured amount of spray is released upon depression of the button 26 or may be of the non-metered type in which spray will be emitted in a continuous stream so long as the button is depressed. The invention herein is particularly applicable to the non-metered type of aerosol container since it provides means for the rapid and instantaneous depression and release of the button 26 so as to provide a spray of very short but controlled duration. The plattorm 18 may be removed or replaced with a: platform of difl'erent size so as to accommodate various siz'esof aerosol containers. 7 i t A vertical recess is formed in. the upper end of the V rearwall 14 and delineates. a pair of laterally-spaced up- .o'fthe container valve. The valve actuating lever 34 includes a horizontal, forwardly extending arm ,36.mountedat a point intermediate its ends upon the-shaft 32 to permit rocking movement of the lever 34. The. for,-

, wa'rd'endof the arm 36 is in vertical alignment withthe.

. valve button 26jand the rear end-thereof is locatedrearwardly of the wall 14 and terminates in a dependingarm" V 38. In order" to limit movement of the lever- .34 in a counterclockwise directiqnas viewed" in Fig. 1, arear- .wardly projecting'jabutment 4tl-ismounted on the wall 14 inia position to contact'the lower surfaceof the arm 36 when the latter is in a substantially horizontal position.

A nut 42' is immovably set within the forward or free end ofthe arm 36, as shown in Fig. 1,Tthe nut 42 tu'rnably and adjustably receiving a screw 44"having a bottom terminalpiece 44a which is normally in contact with the top surface of the valve button 26. The screw 44Zis provided with a flattened head 46 providing a thumb which permits adjustment of said screw. The lower end of the depending lever arm 38' carries a forwardly-extending cam follower member '48 having a front vertical face which is spaced rearwardly from the piece wall,.14. The cam follower member 48 is associated with motor'control' cam means and is adapted to engage and be moved thereby in such a manner as to rock the actuating lever 34 at selected intervals'in a manner which will be presently described, whereby to release periodic-jets of aerosol spray.

Mounted on the wall 14 above the base 12 is a slow speed timing motor50 which maybe of anyconventional' type. Although the timing motor 50 is preferably in the form of an electrical synchronous motor which includes a speed-reducing gear train, it may beof any other wellknown type such as a'spring-wound motor or the-like.. The motor 50 includes a' driven; shaft 52 extending. through and-rotatably supported by'front and rear bushings 54 and 56-. The rear'bushing projects through and, beyond aligned openings formed in the wall 14 and in a reinforcing plate 58 superimposed upon and affixedto the rear face of said wall 14. The rotational speed of: the shaft152 determines the interval between valve opening cycles and may be selected at any desired speeds .I'n one preferred form of'the invention, by'way of example, the speed of the shaft 52 is in the order'of;% revolutionper minute; so that theaerosol container-valve is actuated every fifteen minutes. i 1 W Rotat'ably mounted on the rearbushing 56 i's weighted energy-storing member in the form of an; annular'dise 60. In the central circular aperture ofthe annular disc;

60 is afiixed'a hub member 64" havinga rearwardly-ex? tending. flange 66. The hub member-64 is' rota'tably mounted onthe bushing 56 so that said hub'member and" the annular disc 60 carried thereby may rotate about saidf.

bushing 56; The rearwardly-extending flange 66isarc1I-I ate in' shape and-extends circumferentially approximately" 90 around said hub, asshown in Fig. '5'.., A collar; is mounted on the rear cnd of the'shaft 52' adjacent the rear bushing 56, and is adjustably afiixed to said shaft" 52 by means of; a set screw 70. A pin 72'isimmovably'i fixed to the collar 68 and projects radially therefrom The pin 72 isfposition'ed to} engagethe arcuate flangefifi in such a manner that whenthe collarj68 is rotated by the 'timing 'motor shaftSLthepin fisimovedfin a circular;

'path and broughtfintoabutment. with the trailingend of theflange 66, as shown in' .Fig 5., The ,pin 72therefore is rotated by the motor shaft 52'during a certain period ofoperati'on. r

A weight carrying arm 74 extends from the annular disc 60 in radial alignment with the annular flange 66. The arm 74 includes an inner leg 76 and a rearwardlyoffset outer leg 78 joined-totheinner 'leg by a rearwardly inclined intermediate leg77. Suitably secured to the outeril'egJS. ofithe arm. 74' is:a relatively heavy weight 80 of arcuate configuration, The weight 80 is solocated and-shaped' that. its-path of rotation about the motor shaft; 52. c mera freely, between the lever arm '38 and the wall. 14 and belowtheabutment 40.; a a In order to imparta valve actuating movementrto the lever 34-from'theehergy storing'member' se; there is located on the rear-face' ofjhe annular disc 6%} adjacent the perimeter thereof, an arcuately-extending cam member 82. The cam member 82 trails the weight 8% about the shaft:52 hy-an. angle of approximately 90 and ineludes an. inclined leading-surface 84 and. a raised flat trailing. surface 86. The cam member 82" is afixed to theouter face of the. annular disc 60. by screws 38Wlll6h permit the replacement. thereof by similar cam members of varyingsizes, whereby the length of the valve actuating period may be adjusted. a

When the lever 34 is in its retracted position of Fig. 1 in which the container valve is closed, the forward face of'thefollower 48..is closely spacedfrom the rear surface of'the annular disc. 60. When the disc 60 is turned in the clockwise direction'indicated by the arrow in. Fig. 5, 30 the inclined leading surface 84 of the cam 82 will come into registry with. and" traverse the. cam follower 48, cansingthe lever 34.to.ro'ck-in.a clockwise direction, asviewed inFi'g. 1, aboutthe shaft 32, thereby lowering the. forward end of horizontal arm 36. When the flat cam surface 86 engages the follower'48, the lever 34 is tilted to its maximum extent- The height of the hat cam surface. 86 is such that when itregisters with the follower-48, it causes the lever 34 to rock sufliciently to depress the valve button26 and open the container valve. The period of valve actuation is determined principally by the length of thecam 82, andin partby the mass of the. weight 80 and its distance from the shaft 52. Thus, the ,period of jet spray vemissionof the container 2Q may be VaIied'byernpIoying cams 82' of correspondingly difierent lengths. For this. reason, the cam 81 is removably securedvto the annular, disc.60 for ready replacement.

Another method by 'which the .valve. actuating period may be adjusted is. by turning. the thumbscrew 44;.the loweringrof' thescrew increasing the valve'opening period 50 'andthe raisingof the screw decreasing this period.

'Inorder to prevent the free swinging of the weight 80 and. any consequent damage to .ormalfunctioning of the apparatus which may result therefrom, there is provided a clamping device.- which includes a button 96'f0rrned of 55. rubber or othersuitable compressible material. The outton 9.6 is secured to the lower rear'face of the wall 14 by an annulus90 secured to the wall. 14- by means of. screws, rivets or the like- The button 96, when. in normally expanded position, lies in the' path of the rear face of the weight. 80 and arrests and damps the free swinging thereof by being. compressed by and bearing. against said rear face as it moves along the button 96.

Considering now the application and operation of the improved apparatus. described above,v a spray dispensing can ispositioned in the body frame 10 as illustrated inFig. 1 res'tingfon the platform 18, embraced by spring arms 24 and retained by arm 16. Thescrew 44 is then turned downwardly until its terminal member 44a engages the valve button26. Ifit is desired to increase the valve opening period, the screw 44 may be further turned down but not to the point where the valve is opened. The motor 50 is then energized by connecting it to a source of alternating. current andsthe shaft 52 slowly rotates, carrying with it the pin 72. The annular disc'60 will be 76 in the positionshown in Big; 3 withtheweight 80. hang;

ing vertically downward, and the arcuate flange 66 being therefore located in a downwardly-facing position at the bottom of bushing 56. The pin 72 is turned along a circular path in a clockwise direction until it is brought into abutment with the trailing face of the flange 66 causing the energy-storing member or annular disc 60 to rotate about the bushing member 56, thereby raising the the weight 80 reaches a position level with the shaft 52, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6, the torque imparted to the projection of the axis of the shaft 52 it is accelerated downwardly by gravity and the flange 66 moves free of the pin 72 and motor shaft 52, as shown in Fig. 6. When theweight 80 reaches a position level with the shaft 52, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6, the torque imparted to the annular disc 60 thereby is at its maximum, and the cam 32 engages the follower 48 to rock the lever 34 clockwise to a valve opening position for a selected period determined as previously set forth. As the lever is rocked clockwise, the screw 44 depresses the valve button 26 to effect the discharge of a spray from the container 20. When the cam member 82 passes out of engagement with the follower 48, the lever 34 is permitted to rock counter-clockwise, and the container valve and button are spring-returned to their raised closed position.

When the weight 80 reaches its lower position, its further free swinging is damped and arrested by the rubber button 96 as aforementioned.

It will be observed that the motor shaft 52 in rotating through a complete revolution of 180, turns the pin 72 through an energy storing cycle during the period in which the pin engages the flange 66 of the disc 60 and raises the weight 80 from its depending position of Fig. 3 to its raised position of Fig. 5. When the weight 80 passes the dead center position, it falls freely, the annular disc 60 turning freely about the shaft 52 and bringing the cam 82 rapidly into contact with and past the cam follower 48 to produce a short, instantaneous spray. The motor then continues to turn the shaft 52 through a second cycle in which the pin 72 moves toward the arcuate flange 66 and the motor is not yet raising the weight 80, until the pin 72 engages the flange 66 and the operating cycle is repeated.

There is thus achieved with a single motor a long interval of actuation or energy storage, and a short duty cycle in which the container valve is actuated. While the interval of actuation may be varied selectively by changing the speed of the motor, it will not change the duration of the duty cycle which depends upon the period of time during which the cam 82 traverses the cam follower 48. The motor 50 serves only to lift the weight 80 at a slow regulated speed and is uncoupled from the disc 60 for rapid actuation of the container valve by the weight 80. The motor is thus not utilized to directly serve during the valve actuation period, and requires a minimum of power since it consumes half of the length of the entire operating cycle to raise the weight 80 and load the annular disc 60.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that numerous omissions, changes and additions may be made in this embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A device for automatically periodically opening the normally closed valve of a spray dispensing pressurized container, said device comprising means for supporting said container, an actuating member mounted on said supporting means in position to engage the valve of said supported container and movable between a valve open and valve closed position, a timing motor, an energy storing weighted member having a center of gravity movable between an upper and lower position, means coupling said timing motor to said weighted member to raise said center of gravity to its raised position and to thereafter release said weighted member and permit the 6 center of gravity thereof to substantially freely fall to its lower position, and means connecting said valve actuating member to said weighted member to urge said valve actuating member to a valve open position during the return of the center of gravity of said weighted member to the lower position.

2. A device for automatically periodically opening the normally closed valve of a spray dispensing pressurized container, said device comprising means for supporting said container, an actuating member mounted on said supporting means in position to engage and open the valve of said supported container and movable between a valve open and a valve close position, a shaft, a timing motor rotating said shaft, an energy storing member rotatable about the axis of said shaft and having a center of gravity eccentric to said axis, a rotary lost motion coupling connecting said energy storing member to said shaft to rotate said energy storing member through an energy storing cycle wherein said center of gravity is raised from a lower position to an upper position and to release said energy storing member after it reaches said upper position, and means connecting said energy storing member to said valve actuating member during the falling of the center of gravity of said energy storing member to motivate said valve actuating member.

3. 'A device for automatically periodically opening the normally closed valve of a spray dispensing pressurized container, said device comprising means for supporting said container,an actuating member mounted on said supporting means in position to engage and open the valve of said supported container and movable between a valve open and a valve closed position, a shaft, a timing motor rotating said shaft, an energy storing member freely rotatably about the axis of said shaft and having a weighted portion eccentric to said axis, a rotary lost motion coupling connecting said energy storing member to said shaft to rotate said energy storing member through an energy storing cycle wherein said weighted portion is raised from a depending position to an upstanding position and to release said energy storing member after it reaches said upstanding position, whereby said weighted portion is free to fall to its depending position, and means connecting said energy storing member to said valve actuating member during the falling of the weighted portion of said energy storing member to motivate said valve actuating member.

4. A device for automatically periodically opening the normally closed valve of a spray dispensing pressurized container, said device comprising means for supporting said container, an actuating member mounted on said supporting means in position to engage and open the valve of said supported container and movable between a valve open and a valve closed position, a shaft, a timing motor rotating said shaft, an energy storing member freely rotatable about the axis of said shaft and having a weighted portion eccentric to said axis, a rotary lost motion coupling connecting said energy storing member to said shaft to rotate said energy storing member through an energy storing cycle wherein said weighted member is raised from a depending position to an upstanding position and to release said energy storing member after it reaches said upstanding position, whereby said weighted 1 portion is free to fall to its depending position and a cam member carried by said energy storing member and positioned to engage said valve actuating member during the falling of the weighted portion of said energy storing member to motivate said valve actuating member.

5. A device for automatically periodically opening the normally closed valve of a spray dispensing pressurized container, said device comprising a frame, means on the frame for supporting said container, an actuating lever pivotally mounted on the frame in position and adapted to engage the valve of the supported container and movable between a valve open and a valve closed position, a shaft journalled on said frame, a timing motor rotating said shaft, an energy storing member rotatabie about th'eaxis; of 'saidshaftand having a-=weighted= portion ecupstandingposition, whereby said weighted portion is-free to fall to its depending position, a'nda cam member carried by said energy storing member at a point spaced from and trailing said weighted portion, saidcam member being positioned to engage and pass by sai'd ac tuating lever during thetfalling of the weighted portion of said energy storing member to instantaneously motivate said actuating lever. t 7

6: A- deyice 'accordingto claim- 5 in which said lost motioncoupling comprises a pin rigidwith and'continu! onsly turnable by said shaft, anda segmental flange car--- n'edfby said energy storing member andengageableby said pin'; whensaid weighted portion is in its depending posi-- tion.

t 7.' A devicefor automatieall'y periodically opening thenormally closed valve ofa spray dispen'sing pressurized container, said deviceeomprising a frame, means on: the frame for supporting said container, an actuating lever pivotally mounted on the frame in position and adapted to engage'the valve of the supported container and move I between a valve openand a-va1veclosed position, a shaft journalied' on said frame, a 'timing motor rotating said" shaft. a disc-mounted'on saidj shaft for rotation about the axis thereof, a weight eecentricallymounted on' said disc'to provide a center of'gravityeccentric to"said'axis,. apin mounted on said-shaft and rotatabletherewith, a.

flange rigid with said; disc and located withinj the rotary path 0f said pin, said' pin being engageable, with said flange torotate said disc through an energy storing cycle.

wherein: said weight is raised from a dependingposition to an upstanding position and to release; said disc'after said weight reaches its upstanding position: whereby the" weight falls to its depending position and turns saiddisc,

and acam member mounted-onsaid disc atia point spaced.

fromand'ytr'ailing said weight; said cammember being located to engage and 'pass bysaidactuating lever for.

instantaneous; operation ofithe latter during the falling of said weight toits depending position.

Y 8. A device according to claim '7 in which a damp- 7 ing member is' mou'nted'on the frame atia point registering with thedependingposition ofsaid weight-, said damping member being positioned to engage said weight and" retard the freetswingingthereof whenf the weight falls to its depending position;

References Cited'in-the fil eofthis patent UNITED SIATES PATENTS 

